Thermoelectric

Alloy Property
Data

ALLOY or
DESIGNATION
Pure Metals
Iron
Nickel
Molybdenum
Aluminum (H-P)
Copper
Gold
Silver
Tungsten
Rhenium
Platium Ref
Rhodium
Platinum
Pt- 6%Rh
Pt-10%Rh
Pt-13% Rh
Pt-20% Rh
Pt-30% Rh
Pt-40% Rh
Nickel Alloys
Constantan
CHROMEGA P
ALOMEGA

Compensating
Alloys
Alloy #11
Alloy #200
Alloy #203
Alloy #205
Alloy #225
Alloy #226
Alloy #260

Changes in
Thermocouple
Resistance
with Increasing
Temperature

N=Neg, P=Pos

99.9+%
99.98%
99.9+%
99.99+%
99.98%
99.999%
99.99%
99.99%
99.99%
99.999+%
99.99%

66
39
42
17.4
9.44
13.4
9.3
42
61.2
33.0

60
.0062
37
.0064
31
.0036
15
.0038
9.24 .0041
13.17 .0039
8.83 .0038
33
.0036
117
59.13 .00386
25.8 .0029

.0065
.0068
.0047
.0044
.0043
.0040
.0041
.0048
.00393
.0046

90
100
250
16.3
76
46
52
285
360
60
275

34
48
120
6.8
32
19
24
80
170
24
120

2
2
2
5
1.5
1.5
1.5
2
2

40
36
16
60
46
36
46
3
10
38
16

1536
1452
2610
660
1083
1063
960.8
3410
3170
1769
1966

7.9
8.9
10.2
2.71
8.93
19.30
10.5
19.3
20.0
21.45
12.42

94%Pt- 6%Rh
90% Pt-10% Rh
87% Pt-13% Rh
80% Pt-20% Rh
70% Pt-30% Rh
60% Pt-40% Rh

101
114
119
124
116
108

95
111
114
116
112
101

.0020
.0017
.0016
.0014
.0014
.0014

85
95
105
140
160
190

37
46
48
72
74
78

1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5

34
32
32
32
26
26

1810
1830
1840
1870
1910
1920

20.51
19.95
19.55
18.65
17.52
16.54

150 80
165 95
170 85

2 32
2 27
2 32

1270
1430
1400

8.86
8.73
8.60

55% Cu-45% Ni
315 294
90% Ni-10% Cr
- 425
95% Ni-2% Mn-2% Al
- 177

Tungsten Alloys
Tungsten-3% Re
Tungsten-5% Re
Tungsten-25% Re
Tungsten-26% Re

1. Percent purity or composition column refers to

matching thermocouple grade alloy.

RESISTIVITY TEMP COEEF.

TENSILE
cmil/ft OF RESISTANCE STRENGTH ELONGATION Melting
(at 0C)
(0-100C)
(psi x 1000) (percent)
point Density
0
C
(g/cm3)
Hard Annld Hard Annld
Hard Annld Hard Annld

PERCENT PURITY
or
Notes
composition

(1)

.0019
.0016
.0015
.0013
.0013
.0013

.00003 .00002
.00032 .00032
.00188 .00188

97% W- 3% Re
95% W- 5% Re
75% W-25% Re
74% W-26% Re

55
70
165
170

320
320
300
300

180
200
210
200

10
10
10
10

3410
3350
3130
3120

Pt alloys
Tungsten
Tungsten- 3% Re
Tungsten- 5% Re
Tungsten-25% Re
Tungsten-26% Re
Tungsten-26% Re

30
470
470
510
180
160
750

.0014
.0003
.0012
-

105
-

50
-

2
-

30
-

1090
1430
1400
1410
1370
1450
1520

19.4
19.4
19.7
19.7

8.91
8.73
8.60
8.58
8.88
8.85
7.42

Ratio of Resistance at Temperature Indicated to Resistance at 0C (32F)

N=Neg
P=Pos
0C
20C
200C
400C
600C
800C 1000C 1200C 1400C 1500C
Thermoelements (32F)
(68F)
(392F) (752F) (1112F) (1472F) (1832F) (2192F) (2552F) (2732F)
JP
JN, TN, EN
TP
KP, EP
KN
NP
NN
RP
SP
RN, SN
BP
BN

1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00

1.13
0.999
1.11
1.01
1.05
1.01
1.07
1.03
1.03
1.06
1.03
1.03

2.46
0.996
1.86
1.09
1.43
1.02
1.13
1.31
1.33
1.77
1.26
1.40

4.72
0.994
2.75
1.19
1.64
1.07
1.27
1.60
1.65
2.50
1.51
1.78

7.84
1.02
3.70
1.25
1.82
1.08
1.39
1.89
1.95
3.18
1.76
2.14

12.0
1.056
4.75
1.30
1.98
1.08
1.55
2.16
2.23
3.81
1.98
2.47

13.07
1.092
5.96
1.37
2.15
1.10
1.68
2.41
2.50
4.40
2.20
2.78

1.43
2.32

2.66
2.76
4.94
2.41
3.08

2.90
3.01
5.42
2.62
3.37

3.01
3.13
5.66
2.73
3.51

Resistance of Thermocouples, ohms per foot at 20C ( 68F)

Awg.
No.

Diameter
in.

KN

KP,EP

TN,JN,EN

TP

JP

NP

NN

RN, SN

RP

SP

BP

BN

16
20
24
30
36

0.0508
0.0320
0.0201
0.0100
0.0050

0.0683
0.173
0.438
1.77
7.08

0.164
0.415
1.05
4.25
17.0

0.1113
0.287
0.728
2.94
11.8

0.00402
0.0102
0.0257
0.1032
0.4148

0.0276
0.0699
0.1767
0.710
2.86

.2230
.5664
1.436
5.800
23.20

.08458
.2148
.5445
2.20
8.800

0.0247
0.0624
0.1578
0.6344
2.550

0.0456
0.1149
0.4656
2.965
12.25

0.0445
0.1125
0.2847
1.144
4.600

0.0447
0.1130
0.2859
1.149
4.620

0.0414
0.1046
0.2647
1.064
4.277

Z-49

Thermocouple
Types

Trade Names of Alloys

ANSI DESIGNATION

Iron-Constantan (ANSI Symbol J) The Iron-Constantan

J curve thermocouple with a positive iron wire and a
negative Constantan wire is recommended for reducing
atmospheres. The operating range for this alloy
combination is 1600F for the largest wire sizes. Smaller
size wires should operate in correspondingly lower
temperatures.
Copper-Constantan (ANSI Symbol T) The CopperConstantan T curve thermocouple, with a positive copper
wire and a negative Constantan wire, is recommended for
use in mildly oxidizing and reducing atmospheres up to
750F. They are suitable for applications where moisture is
present. This alloy is recommended for low temperature
work since the homogeneity of the component wires can
be maintained better than with other base metal wires.
Therefore, errors due to inhomogeneity of wires in zones of
temperature gradients are greatly reduced.
CHROMEGA -ALOMEGA (ANSI Symbol K) The
CHROMEGA-ALOMEGA K curve thermocouple with a
positive CHROMEGA wire and a negative ALOMEGA
wire is recommended for use in clean oxidizing
atmospheres, The operating range for this alloy is 2300F
for the largest wire sizes. Smaller wire sizes should operate
in correspondingly lower temperatures.

ALLOY (Generic or Trade Names)

JP
JN, EN, or TN
KP or EP
KN
TP
RN or SN
RP
SP

Iron
Constantan, Cupron, Advance
CHROMEGA, Tophel, T1, Thermokanthal KP
ALOMEGA, Nial, T2, Thermokanthal KN
Copper
Pure Platinum
Platinum 13% Rhodium
Platinum 10% Rhodium

Trade Names: Advance T - Driver Harris Co., CHROMEGA and ALOMEGA - OMEGA Engineering, Inc., Cupron, Nial and
Trophel -Wilbur B. Driver Co., Thermokanthal KP and Thermokanthal KN -The Kanthal Corporation.

ANSI LETTER DESIGNATIONS -Currently thermocouple and extension wire is ordered and specified by an ANSI letter
designation. Popular generic and trade name examples are CHROMEGA/ALOMEGA -ANSI Type K: Iron/Constantan ANSI Type J: Copper/Constantan - ANSI Type T CHROMEGA/Constantan -ANSI Type E: Platinum/Platinum 10% Rhodium
- ANSI Type S: Platinum/Platinum 13% Rhodium -ANSI Type R. The positive and negative legs are identified by letter suffixes
P and N, respectively, as listed in the tables.

CHROMEGA-Constantan (ANSI Symbol E) The

CHROMEGA-Constantan thermocouple may be used for
temperatures up to 1600F in a vacuum or inert, mildly
oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. At sub-zero
temperatures, the thermocouple is not subject to corrosion.
This thermocouple has the highest emf output of any
standard metallic thermocouple.

ANSI Symbol

70

T
E
J
K
N*

60
K
Millivolts

Platinum-Rhodium Alloys (ANSI Symbols S, R and B)

Three types of noble-metal thermocouples are in common
use; they are: 1) a positive wire of 90% platinum and 10%
rhodium used with a negative wire of pure platinum, 2) a
positive wire of 87% platinum and 13% rhodium used with
a negative wire of pure platinum, and 3) a positive wire of
70% platinum and 30% rhodium used with a negative wire
of 94% platinum and 6% rhodium. They have a high
resistance to oxidation and corrosion. However, hydrogen,
carbon and many metal vapors can contaminate a
platinum-rhodium thermocouple. The recommended
operating range for the platinum-rhodium alloys is 2800F,
although temperatures as high as 3270F can be
measured with the Pt-30% Rh vs. Pt-6% Rh alloy
combination.

80

50

N*

40

G*
C*

30
T

20

R S
B

10
0
1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Temperature (Fahrenheit)

Tungsten-Rhenlum Alloys Three types of tungstenrhenium thermocouples are in common use for measuring
temperatures up to 5000F. These alloys have inherently
poor oxidation resistance and should be used in vacuum,
hydrogen or inert atmospheres.

Copper vs. Constantan

CHROMEGA vs. Constantan
Iron vs. Constantan
CHROMEGA vs. ALOMEGA
OMEGALLOY
Nicrosil-Nisil
G* Tungsten vs. Tungsten 26%
Rhenium
C* Tungsten 5% Rhenium vs.
Tungsten 26% Rhenium
D* Tungsten 3% Rhenium vs.
Tungsten 25% Rhenium
R Platinum 13% Rhodium vs.
Platinum
S Platinum 10% Rhodium vs.
Platinum
B Platinum 30% Rhodium vs.
Platinum 6% Rhodium
*Not an ANSI Symbol

Resistance Vs. Wire Diameter

AWG
No.
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
24
26
30
32
34
36
38
40
44
50
56

Type K
Type J
Type T
Type E
Type S
Iron/
Copper/
CHROMEGA
Pt/
Diameter CHROMEGA
inches ALOMEGA Constantan Constantan Constantan PT110%Rh
0.162
0.023
0.014
0.012
0.027
0.007
0.128
0.037
0.022
0.019
0.044
0.011
0.102
0.058
0.034
0.029
0.069
0.018
0.081
0.091
0.054
0.046
0.109
0.028
0.064
0.146
0.087
0.074
0.175
0.045
0.051
0.230
0.137
0.117
0.276
0.071
0.040
0.374
0.222
0.190
0.448
0.116
0.032
0.586
0.357
0.298
0.707
0.185
0.0201
1.490
0.878
0.7526
1.78
0.464
0.0159
2.381
1.405
1.204
2.836
0.740
0.0100
5.984
3.551
3.043
7.169
1.85
0.0080
9.524
5.599
4.758
11.31
1.96
0.0063
15.17
8.946
7.66
18.09
4.66
0.0050
24.08
14.20
12.17
28.76
7.40
0.0039
38.20
23.35
19.99
45.41
11.6
0.00315
60.88
37.01
31.64
73.57
18.6
0.0020
149.6
88.78
76.09
179.20
74.0
0.0010
598.4
355.1
304.3
716.9
185
0.00049 2408
1420
1217
2816
740

*Increase the resistance by 19% for nickel plated, type RTD wire

Type R
Type RX/SX
Type C
Pt/
Copper
W5%Re/
PT113%Rh Alloy11**
W26%Re
0.007
0.003
0.009
0.011
0.004
0.015
0.018
0.007
0.023
0.029
0.011
0.037
0.047
0.018
0.058
0.073
0.028
0.092
0.119
0.045
0.148
0.190
0.071
0.235
0.478
0.180
0.594
0.760
0.288
0.945
1.91
0.727
2.38
3.04
1.136
3.8
4.82
1.832
6.04
7.64
2.908
9.6
11.95
4.780
15.3
19.3
7.327
24.4
76.5
18.18
60.2
191
72.7
240
764
302.8
1000

**Maximum Resistance of reviewed wire

Z-50

Type CX
Alloy 405
Alloy 426
0.014
0.023
0.037
0.058
0.093
0.146
0.238
0.371
0.941
1.503
3.800
5.94
9.57
15.20
24.98
38.30
95.00
380.0
1583

Type G
W/
W26%Re
0.008
0.012
0.020
0.031
0.049
0.078
0.126
0.200
0.560
0.803
2.03
3.22
5.10
8.16
12.9
20.6
51.1
204
850

Not ANSI symbol

Type D
W3%Re/
W25%Re
0.009
0.015
0.022
0.035
0.055
0.088
0.138
0.220
0.560
0.890
2.26
3.60
5.70
9.10
15.3
23.0
56.9
227
945

Type BX
Copper/
Copper*
0.000790
0.001256
0.001998
0.00318
0.00505
0.00803
0.01277
0.02030
0.05134
0.08162
0.2064
0.3282
0.5218
0.8296
1.3192
2.098
5.134
20.64
86.38